The day has finally arrived and youโre overjoyed to bring your brand-new puppy home for the very first time. The smile on your face is huge and it doesnโt want to go away because it gets bigger every time you look at your brand new gorgeous little puppy.
Youโre ready to feed, walk, and care for this little creature as if it were your own child. You purchase plenty of puppy food, toys, and blankets, and youโre ready to give your gorgeous little pooch plenty of hugs and affection.
Guess what? You forgot to get your little bundle of joy a new puppy playpen!
You might be wondering, โDo I really need one?โ
It is certainly up to you, but little puppies are very mischievous and they donโt listen very well. Youโll be chasing your little guy or gal around the house 24/7 if it doesnโt have a safe place of its own to sleep, play, get exercise, and genuinely enjoy life.
Ready to learn about the Best Puppy Playpen?
I recently tested and evaluated 5 different playpens on my brand-new pup. I had plenty to learn while testing them and I have even more to say now that Iโm done analyzing and reviewing my experience.
While testing these small dog playpens, I evaluated them based on 5 different criteria. The criteria include:
- Portability
- Ease of Assembly
- Safety
- Customizable
- Easy To Clean
To learn the results of my test and find out more about the best puppy playpen, please keep reading below.
Best Puppy Playpen: Our Top 5 List
Best Exercise Playpen With Door
IRIS USA Dog Playpen
Editorโs Comments:
The IRIS USA Dog Playpen is a great choice because itโs perfect for potty training, easy to fold, easy to maneuver, and even easier to assemble. It has one door panel for quick exit and entry and up to seven non-door panels for safety and security.
- Material: Plastic
- Size: Varies from 35โณx35โณ to 63โณx63โณ
- Height: Varies from 24โณ to 34โณ
- Style: Available configurations โ 4-panel, 6-panel and 8-panel
- Brand: IRIS USA, Inc.
Overall Score:
85
The Bottom Line:
This dog playpen is considered a Top Pick for numerous reasons, but in particular, itโs a great choice for dogs in need of exercise. It has easy-to-assemble interlocking panels and a single door panel for quick and easy exit and entry. Itโs made in the USA, doesnโt slide because of non-skid rubber feet and it has a twist lock locking mechanism built in.Whatโs Good
- Easy interlocking panels
- Built-in twist lock
- Non-skid rubber feet
- Made in the USA
- Add-on panels available
Whatโs Bad
- Difficult to store
- Flimsy design
- Puppies can escape
Summary
The IRIS USA Dog Playpen is one of my favorite playpens that I have the opportunity to review, which is why I consider it a Top Pick.
As far as Portability goes, itโs easier to fold and transport, but it wasnโt my favorite in this category. Although, itโs easy to disassemble or fold up and bring it with you wherever you need to take it like a family memberโs home, your backyard, or a playdate for your pup.
For Ease of Assembly, I like this product a great deal because I was able to put it together and snap it all in place with no problem at all. The assembly is so easy that I figured it out without even reading the instructions.
Safety is one of its biggest strong points. Not only is it made of plastic, which is safe and not very sharp for dogs, but it also does a great job of keeping pooches safely nestled within the pen without having to worry about them breaking out unexpectedly.
In the area of being Customizable, I also hold this playpen in high regard because you can mold it into many different shapes. You can make it round, rectangular, triangular, or any other shape you want. And they even sell additional panels separately, which makes it easy to customize it into a large or small playpen.
Itโs also really Easy to Clean. Since itโs made of plastic, just wipe it down with a wet towel or spray it with a common household cleaner. Either way, youโll have no trouble easily cleaning it off and keeping it free of dust, dirt, and debris.
Overall, I think this is an excellent puppy playpen for many reasons, but I particularly like its safety features, customizability, and the fact that itโs really easy to clean.
Related article: Best Dog Travel Crates
Best Foldable Metal Exercise Playpen
Amazon Basics Foldable Metal Dog and Pet Exercise Playpen
Editorโs Comments:
The AmazonBasics Foldable Metal Dog and a Pet Exercise Playpen is an amazing product, which is why I awarded it Editorโs Choice. Itโs tall enough to keep extra-small and small dog breeds safely penned in and wide enough to give them room to exercise, play, and rest, which is what I was looking for.
- Material: Metal
- Size: 60โณ x 60โณ
- Height: Ranges from 24โณ to 48โณ
- Style: 8-Panel Octagon, Without Door
- Brand: Amazon
Overall Score:
80
The Bottom Line:
The AmazonBasics Foldable Metal Dog and a Pet Exercise Playpen is great for small dogs that arenโt too tall. At a great value, it will get the job done if your pup isnโt too tall and it has durable wire construction.Whatโs Good
- Made for extra-small and small breeds
- Durable wire construction
- Rustproof black finish
- Suitable for dogs up to 16 inches tall
- Thumb clips to connect the panels
Whatโs Bad
- Snout gets stuck between wiring
- Best for puppies, not other pets
- Flimsy
Summary
The AmazonBasics Foldable Metal Dog and Pet Exercise Playpen turned out to be an excellent choice. Not only do I consider it the Editorโs Choice, but I also appreciate that itโs the Best Foldable Metal Exercise Playpen out of all that I reviewed.
For starters, the playpen fared pretty well as far as Portability is concerned. I found it a little bit more difficult to fold and carry because of the metal wires when compared to other playpens, but ultimately it wasnโt too difficult. It just wasnโt my favorite out of the bunch.
When it comes to Ease of Assembly, I appreciated this foldable and portable playpen a great deal. It was one of my favorites as far as the assembly is concerned. I found it very easy to set it up because I didnโt have to put it together. I just needed to unfold it and it was ready for use, which is great for people who have a tough time putting things together.
As far as Safety goes, I, unfortunately, had to lower my overall score because a few puppies, unfortunately, managed to get their snouts and heads stuck between the wire gating. In one case, the little puppy chipped its tooth by biting the wire fence, which is an unlucky situation to occur. But the problems seem to be few and far between, thankfully because otherwise, itโs a great puppy playpen.
I also like this playpen because itโs Customizable. You can mold it into many different shapes using the eight connected panels. You can make it circular, rectangular, square, or create your own unique and interesting shape. You may even want to turn it into an octagon, which is certainly a lot of fun and pretty cool to look at.
Lastly, Iโd like to talk more about the category Easy to Clean. Since the entire product is made of wire fencing, itโs one of the easiest puppy playpens to clean that Iโve ever come across. Take a wet wipe, damp washcloth, paper towel, or other damp surface and use it to wipe down the playpen whenever it gets dirty from grime and dust build-up. It doesnโt get easier than that.
At the end of the day, Iโm a big fan of the Amazon Basics Puppy Playpen, which is why itโs the Editorโs Choice.
Related article: Metal Vs. Fabric Dog Travel Crates
Best Large Wire Pet Pen
IRIS USA 589735 OPP-1280 Wire Open Pet Pen
Editorโs Comments:
The IRIS USA 589735 OPP-1280 Wire Open Pet Pen is a great option because itโs a larger playpen with wide open space. Itโs made with a wooden floor and decorative wood around the edges combined with heavy gauge epoxy coated wire for added strength and style.
- Material: Coated Wire
- Size: Varies. Medium: 38.39โณ x 26.18โณ and Large: 47.24โณ x 31.5โณ
- Height: Varies from 24โณ to 35.5โณ
- Style: Rectangular, Traditional Crate Design
- Brand: IRIS USA, Inc.
Overall Score:
79
The Bottom Line:
Overall, I appreciate this dog playpen from IRIS USA because itโs built to last, it has great durability and strength, itโs very stylish and looks nice in my home, and itโs really sturdy so I donโt have to worry about it falling apart while my precious pup is playing inside. I really like the wood trim because it matches my hardwood floor, which is an added bonus.Whatโs Good
- Wooden trim
- Removable bottom tray โ easy cleanup
- Sliding door
- Quick access
- Positive lock latch
Whatโs Bad
- Chew through the plastic liner
- Larger puppies can jump out of smaller version
- Missing parts
Summary
The IRIS USA 589735 OPP-1280 Wire Open Pet Pen is my favorite choice as the Best Large Wire Pet Pen because itโs affordable, it has a tall option which helps keep puppies from getting loose, and itโs stylish, comfortable for my pet, and it has great security so I could walk away without having to worry about my pooch.
The playpen is relatively lightweight, so itโs pretty easy to move, which makes it a great choice if Portability is an issue. Even if you do not typically spend a great deal of time lifting objects, this item is lightweight enough that it shouldnโt be a problem.
Ease of Assembly exists as well, so youโre not going to have a great deal of trouble putting this playpen together for your pup. Depending on the size, it either comes with six or eight plastic pegs that must be snapped into place while putting it together. Itโs very easy to do so thereโs nothing to worry about here.
Safety is of the utmost importance, which is why Iโm happy to say that this is a really safe playpen. Itโs well-made, sturdy, and tall enough that even larger puppies would never be able to jump out of the playpen because it would be too difficult for their little bodies to get over the gate. I definitely appreciate the added security and I think you will too.
Itโs definitely lacking in the Customizable category, but in my opinion that isnโt really a big deal. Itโs a rectangular playpen that gets the job done. You arenโt going to convert it into an oval, an octagon, or square, but it certainly serves its purpose well enough.
Itโs also incredibly Easy to Clean. You can either vacuum or wipe down the wooden floor to clean the bottom of the playpen. Wiping down the wire gates with a simple rag and water or your favorite cleaning product is more than enough to clean this fantastic puppy playpen.
Itโs absolutely a fantastic choice if youโre looking for a larger playpen for a bigger puppy or larger dog breed.
Related article: How To Measure Dog For Travel Crate
Best Portable Playpen With Carrying Case
Ruff โn Ruffus Portable Foldable Pet Playpen
Editorโs Comments:
The Ruff โn Ruffus Portable Foldable Pet Playpen is an absolute joy to own if youโre looking for the perfect playpen to bring with you on play dates, vacations, and more. It comes with a free carrying case and free travel ball, plus itโs water resistant, good for indoor/outdoor use, has a shade cover, and itโs available in three different sizes.
- Material: Fabric
- Size: Ranges from 29โณx29โณ to 48โณx48โณ
- Height: Ranges from 17โณ to 23.5โณ
- Style: 8-Panel Octagon, With Zipper Door
- Brand: Ruff โn Ruffus
Overall Score:
78
The Bottom Line:
I can say with certainty that this playpen is the Best Portable Playpen with a Carrying Case out of all the different playpens that I reviewed. It has a removable zipper top, itโs available in medium, large, and extra-large, itโs made of sturdy polyester material, and it folds very easily into the nifty carrying case. It even comes with a small portable food dish too which is a nice bonus.Whatโs Good
- For dogs 10-50+ pounds
- Free convenient carrying case
- Collapsible 16-ounce food bowl
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Roomy 8-panel design
Whatโs Bad
- Weird smell
- Too small
- Collapses easily
Summary
The Ruff โn Ruffus Portable Foldable Pet Playpen is a personal favorite for a few reasons, but I particularly appreciate the affordable price, which is why I consider it the Best Value. Itโs also water-resistant, it has a removable top to shade your pup, and itโs available in medium, large, and extra-large and it comes with a bonus collapsible dog dish too.
For starters, I appreciate the Portability of this playpen. It folds up quickly and itโs lightweight, so it easily fits into a small and compact carrying case. It almost looks like a thin briefcase that you might bring with you to the office.
The ease of Assembly is amazing with this particular product. it doesnโt require any assembly because it unfolds and voilร , there it is! You can open and close the top to provide Shade for your puppy, but thatโs about as far as the assembly goes.
I think itโs a great playpen for Safety as well. Itโs made of polyester, itโs lightweight, and it doesnโt have any sharp edges. Your puppy will be very safe inside and I can say this with absolute certainty. The playpen does collapse at times, but this isnโt a safety issue because again, itโs lightweight so it would never hurt your puppy or small dog.
It doesnโt excel at being Customizable, so thereโs nothing to consider for this category. It unfolds in its circular shape and thatโs about the extent of it. The one customization is that you can open and close the roof, which gives you the ability to provide shade for your pup if itโs in the playpen in the backyard or on the beach.
Many ask if itโs Easy to Clean. I didnโt have any difficulty cleaning it, but on the kind of person that keeps on top of my stuff. If thereโs ever a spill or a mess is made, I clean it up right away by wiping down the polyester material. It will be very easy to keep this playpen clean as long as youโre willing to put in a small effort when the need arises.
Overall, I highly recommend this playpen for its easy assembly and portability.
Best Foldable Playpen With Carrying Straps
North States Mypet Petyard Passage
Editorโs Comments:
The North States Mypet Petyard Passage is a bold choice because itโs easily customizable and itโs the Best Foldable Playpen with Carrying Straps. I like that they have a lockable doggie door on one of the panels of the playpen as well, so my pups can easily get in and out of the playpen when they are safely inside the house or backyard.
- Material: Plastic
- Size: Ranges from 18.3 sq. ft. to 34.4 sq. ft.
- Height: 26โณ
- Style: Available in 6-panel or 8-panel and comes with a swinging doggie door.
- Brand: MYPET
Overall Score:
77
The Bottom Line:
At the end of the day, this playpen is great because itโs sturdy, strong, and easily foldable. Plus, it comes with handy carrying straps that makes it easy to transport back and forth to the park, the beach, a relative or friendโs house, or any other venue that you might be visiting.Whatโs Good
- Durable plastic material
- 6 or 8 panels
- Quick locking pet door
- Skid resistant pads
- Convenient carrying straps
Whatโs Bad
- Not flexible
- Broken pieces in box
- No door โ only small doggie door
Summary
The North States Mypet Petyard Passage is the Best Foldable Playpen with Carrying Straps for good reason. I really appreciate the sturdy material, the functional design, the doggie door on the front for quick exits and entries, and the fact that itโs made of lightweight plastic material, so itโs simple to carry around.
Speaking of Portability, they did a great job when they created this overall design. This seems like it would be difficult to carry around on the surface, but when you break it down to individual panels and strap everything together, itโs very easy to transport this puppy playpen anywhere you need to go.
This is very simple to put together, so it really excels as far as Ease of Assembly is concerned. The panels are interlocking and they give you eight of them, so you can create a small, medium, or large -sized space for your pups. And snapping the pieces together is really simple and they have no trouble connecting with the convenient locking pet door.
Safety is never an issue with this particular puppy playpen. Not only is it safe for your pets because itโs lightweight and lockable yet durable and strong, itโs also safe for your hardwood floor because they added skid-resistant pads to the bottom. It does a great job at keeping floors from being damaged or scratched.
There is definitely a Customizable factor with this dog playpen as well. You can customize it to your liking using as many panels as you desire. If you want a smaller playpen to squeeze into a tinier room, you could use 4 panels instead of 8, or vice versa if you need a larger space. And you can customize the shape of the playpen by manipulating it to your liking.
Itโs definitely Easy to Clean as well. Cleaning is never going to be a problem. Itโs made of sturdy durable plastic that can be wiped down with a wet towel, a wash rag, or you can even spray it down with a hose if you donโt feel like putting in the elbow grease.
All in all, I highly recommend this playpen if youโre looking for a foldable model thatโs easy to carry.
Buying Guide To Selecting The Best Puppy Playpen:
Are you getting ready to acquire a new puppy playpen for your rascally little pooch? If youโre anything like me, youโll always choose the best for your furry little friend.ย
Thatโs why I took time out of my busy schedule to analyze and review the best 5 puppy playpens on the market today. At least I consider them the best. You may have a different opinion entirely.
In fact:
You might prefer ignoring my recommendations altogether. You may want to seek and find the perfect playpen for your little pooch on your own. This is certainly to be commendable because it shows how much you care about your little one.
Do you know what youโre looking for? Do you know the best things to focus on when choosing your new playpen?
I developed a list of 5 specific criteria that I use to judge and analyze these playpens. To help you out, Iโm going to name each category and share details about my thoughts on each particular category and what Iโm thinking when I choose a new product.
I base my analysis and reviews on the following criteria:
- Portability
- Ease of Assembly
- Safety
- Customizable
- Easy to Clean
Would you like to follow my guidelines for evaluating puppy playpens? Keep reading to better understand why I chose each category.
Portability
Some people care a great deal about portability. Others are very concerned with it at all. Where do you stand on the issue?
- Do you intend to bring the playpen with you on play dates?ย
- Do you plan to set it up on the beach?ย
- Do you plan to bring it with you to the park as you spend time outdoors with your brand-new puppy?
Answering these questions will make it easy for you to determine if portability is an important feature for you. If it is, make sure you find something lightweight, easy to fold or take apart, and easy to store and a convenient carrying case.
Ideally, your best bet is to choose a foldable puppy playpen that you can conveniently store in a carrying case that comes with the product. Or, make sure to choose something that stacks up very neatly so you can easily bring it with you wherever you go.
How These Puppy Playpens Compare In The Portability Category
Ease of Assembly
Are you the kind of person that tends to struggle to assemble products that they purchased?
It can be really frustrating and embarrassing when you canโt follow the instructions to put the product together. Does this ring a bell with you at all?
If so, your best bet is to find a puppy playpen thatโs known for easy assembly. One playpen in particular that I know of is made of polyester material and it instantly unfolds and pops right into its playpen shape.ย
Maybe consider purchasing something to that effect. Or, if you need something sturdier thatโs made of durable plastic or wire mesh, just make sure that itโs known for its ease of assembly. Otherwise you may end up purchasing a playpen that you never end up using because itโs too difficult to put together.
Nobody wants that, right?
How These Puppy Playpens Compare In The Ease of Assembly Category
Safety
I donโt know about you, but I would never buy a puppy playpen that I felt was unsafe. I care too much about my little guy to risk his health or well-being.
How about you? Honestly, youโre here so I know you donโt need to answer this question. I know that safety is of the utmost importance to you and your loved ones.
So, read about potential puppy playpens before making a purchase. Look at comments or blurbs shared by other customers. Find out if they felt the particular playpen is safe, durable, and secure enough to keep your puppy penned in and protected.
Otherwise, you may end up with a playpen that isnโt safe, doesnโt keep your dog secure in his play area, and it may even potentially hurt the little guy. And I know none of us want our little pups to accidentally get hurt.
How These Puppy Playpens Compare In The Safety Category
Customizable
Do you need a customizable solution for your puppy playpen? Some playpens make it easy to customize the shape depending on your particular needs.
In fact, Iโve seen playpens that customized to the following shapes:
- circular playpens
- rectangular playpens
- square playpens
- octagon playpens
- triangular playpens
- hexagon playpens
- and other shapes
If customization is absolutely necessary, make sure to find a playpen that is known for its customization abilities. Read comments and other information shared by the manufacturer and previous customers to find out more about a playpenโs options and abilities for customization.
How These Puppy Playpens Compare In The Customizable Category
Easy to Clean
After reviewing 5 different puppy playpens, I can say with certainty that every one of them was fairly easy to clean. The harder to clean playpens are the ones with lots of cracks and crevices that are difficult to get to.
If cleanliness is important, and it certainly should be, then make sure to choose a new playpen that has a simple design that would be very easy to wipe down as soon as your puppy is done spending time in the play area.
My favorite playpens for cleaning are the ones that do not have a floor at the bottom. This means youโll only have to clean the gates and nothing more. Keep this in mind if cleanliness is godliness in your opinion.
How These Puppy Playpens Compare In The Easy To Clean Category
Best Puppy Playpen FAQs:
How Long Should I Keep My Puppy Inside Of A Puppy Playpen?
The answer to this question depends on your goals of using the puppy playpen. If youโre only trying to help your puppy get the best possible exercise, then you only need to leave the little guy or gal in there for 10 to 15 minutes.
Allow the puppy to run around and play and have a good time in his or her brand-new playpen. This will allow your puppy the opportunity to stretch, run around, roll around, and get plenty of health and life promoting exercise.
When Is It A Good Idea To Keep A Puppy In A Playpen?
Itโs never really a bad idea to put your puppy and a playpen. But the optimal times are when youโre away from home and you canโt have your little puppy roaming around the house while nobody is there to supervise him or her.ย
This could lead to a very bad situation if your puppy were ever to get hurt while you werenโt there to watch and take care of him.
Another interesting situation is keeping puppies and playpens when an adult works from home. This will give you the opportunity to get some work done without having to chase the puppy around or play with him or her when time is in permitting.ย
This also gives you a chance to keep your puppy close so that it doesnโt suffer from separation anxiety by being locked in another room all away on the other side of the house.
Ultimately, itโs up to you to decide when itโs best to keep your puppy and a playpen. The other obvious answer is when your puppy needs to get some exercise and have some fun.ย
Youโll obviously want to keep your puppy in the playpen when itโs time to run around under your expert care and supervision.
Should I Leave A Wee Wee Pad In My Puppy Playpen?
I love this question because so many people wonder if itโs okay to leave a wee wee pad or an absorbent pad inside a playpen.ย
I am in the camp that itโs certainly a good idea to leave this pad in the playpen. Otherwise, your puppy may end up having an accident as he or she is running around and having a good time.
Remember, itโs certainly important to give your puppy plenty of time for leisure activities and exercise. But you shouldnโt have to worry about your carpet being ruined because the puppy is running around inside of his playpen on the carpet.
Do yourself a favor and take the extra precautions and leave an absorbent pad down on your rug. Itโs definitely better to feel safe than sorry and I bet you can agree with this sentiment.
Overall Product Comparisons For The Best Puppy Playpens
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